OHSWEKEN – Race fans and drivers alike are enjoying the many improvements made to the Ohsweken Speedway over the off-season.
There has also been re-staffing at the management end for the Speedway’s 21st season, including the appointment of new Track Manager Clinton Geoffrey and Track Superintendent Stan Farmer, among other changes.
Both Geoffrey and Farmer are no rookies to the race game or to Ohsweken Speedway, both having worked in other capacities at the track for many years, and both have been working very hard to make this 2016 season at Ohsweken Speedway the best ever.
A long-time employee and announcer at the speedway, Geoffrey has played a role at Ohsweken since 1998. Most recently, he has served as a Director of Race Night Operations and announcer at both Ohsweken Speedway and Humberstone Speedway.
“I will still be doing my regular duties, but will now be working with our team to bring in new business [fans, drivers, sponsors] and doing all I can to improve the customer experience,” Geoffrey stated. “I will still be announcing, and filling out my weekends on the road at other venues.”
Some of this year’s improvements to the track itself fans will not see, but drivers certainly have, and they like it.
Remediation on the track begins when the last car crosses the finish line and continues until the first flag is dropped.
“We’ve done a lot of preseason maintenance to straighten concrete blocks and the fence on the back straight,” said Farmer. “That makes it safer for the drivers and the fans.”
New Case HI grading equipment has allowed crews to virtually lay down a brand new surface and keep it maintained all season long.
Many of the divisions prize money has also been topped up for the 2016 racing season with special schedule additions and feature races also being added to the 2016 sponsored races.
For the fans, new fiberglass composite grandstand seating has replaced a lot of the old worn wood planks. New washroom facilities, souvenir and an eating area have also been added.
As of June 18, the top five points holders in the Thunder Stocks included, David Bailey of Hagersville, the track leader, with 396 points, followed by Karl Sault of Dundas (383), Dale Gyokery of Jarvis (363), Hamilton’s Derek Lemyre (362), and Wyatt Van Wart coming in with 359 points, from Cambridge.
For the Mini-stocks, its Woodstock’s Brandon Janssens (389), Chris Ryckman of Brantford, 19 points back with 370 points, Jonathan Ayrton of Hamilton with 362, Jon Janssens of Woodstock with 347 points and Martin Schroder from Beachville in fifth spot with 344 points.
